Object of the Month

The stoat (Mustela erminea) is part of the mustelid family , related to weasels . In winter stoats change their coats from the brown of summer to a white winter coat. The white winter coat is also known as ermine. This white coat helps the stoat to blend in with snow covered landscapes and therefore to hunt more efficiently during the cold winter months. In Britain rabbits form an important part of the stoat diet. In the past this meant they were in competition with Gamekeepers who treated them as vermin and would trap stoats to prevent them hunting rabbits.